Summertime, and the Livin’ Is Easy (by Ellie)

I don't know about you, but whenever I ask people to suggest songs for a summer playlist, they always respond "The Beach Boys". Wonderful suggestion, yes, but also too obvious. So I've put together a list of eleven tracks that does NOT include "Good Vibrations", the Piña Colada Song, or "Orinoco Flow". I've tried to combine classic artists with newer ones, and well-known songs with some that you may not have heard yet. Whether you're spending your summer working frantically or kicking back and relaxing by the pool, these tracks are sure to hit the spot.

1. School of Seven Bells – Half Asleep [This song reminds me of the dreamy splendor of summer mornings, watching the sun rise over the treetops and listening to the birds singing . . . or maybe just hitting the snooze button and going back to sleep.]
   
2. Bishop Allen – Cue the Elephants [The first line is: "The morning belonged to the grapefruit". 'Nuff said.]
   
3. Traveling Wilburys – Margarita [Ahh, the '80s supergroup that was the Traveling Wilburys. George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan lend their considerable talent to this fun track. I have no idea what the heck they're singing about, but it sure sounds cool.]
   
4. Goldfish – Fort Knox [Combining funk with electronica, this song by the up-and-coming South African duo is best listened to blaring from the stereo with the bass cranked up.]
   
5. Fleet Foxes – Ragged Wood [Great tune for lying out on a picnic blanket and soaking up the sun.]
   
6. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car [This song almost begs to be listened to when you're out driving at night. Just roll down the windows and let the balmy summer breeze and Chapman's soulful voice flow over you.]
   
7. Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime [For me, this track is a quintessential summer song, and not just 'cause of the title either. The beat of this song is reminiscent of an ol'-time Southern washboard band, and makes me think of sipping sweet tea in the cool shade.]
   
8. The Crookes – Backstreet Lovers [Very few artists could make a song about switch-blades, Skinheads, and concrete jungles sound so happy and innocent, yet The Crookes pull it off with infectious charm.]
   
9. The Decemberists – July, July! [Although Colin Meloy can't resist sticking in a few references to macabre things like blood and guts, this song still ends up sounding cheerful and bright.]
   
10. Panic(!) at the Disco – When the Day Met the Night [Starting off with a shimmering of sitar-like guitar noise, this song from the new Panic at the Disco album Pretty. Odd. crescendos into a Beatles-esque pop song about love "in the middle of the summer".]
    
11. The Cat Empire – Hello [With Latin and ska influences and jazzy trumpets, this track is perfect for dancing.]

Summer Mix Must-Haves (by Eryn)

These songs just reek of summer to me, I can't listen to them and NOT think about warm air and sun on my skin. I tried to mix together some upbeat songs worthy of dancing to, to chilling by the bonfire music. Honestly, I cannot imagine a summer mix that does not contain at least one of these songs.

1. Camera Obscura- French Navy [Such a fun and playful song, it has a bit of that vintage flavor you can expect from Camera Obscura. Doesn't it just make you want to put on a skirt and huge brightly colored sunglasses and ride your bike? Or is it just me…]

2. Sigur Ros- Gobbledigook [Whenever I listen to Sigur Ros, it's almost a religious experience. It makes me want to run barefoot through a forest, do cartwheels, or watch the sun rise. Even though you can't tell what they're saying, the beat of the drums in the background is almost language unto itself.]

3. Broken Social Scene- Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl [The slow crescendo of this song is strangely mimetic of how summer is, it usually starts slow, then grows into something truly amazing. There just are no words to describe how the blend of sounds in this song, the banjo music, violin chords, and layered singing work together.]

4. MGMT- Kids [I have a slight obsession with this song, I just can't get the electronic vibe out of my head! This is awesome driving music, I can attest to that, it makes you want to dance in your seat and tap the wheel.]

5. Animal Collective- Fireworks [A few friends of mine saw this song live and claimed it changed their lives. I think you could have a similar experience simply driving along with the windows down and this blasting on your stereo.]

6. Bon Iver- Skinny Love [Bon Iver holds a special place in my heart because he wrote his music while in Wisconsin. His music is beautiful, and this acoustic song is perfect for a cool slow evening around a bonfire. I dunno, I guess I'm just a sucker for a man with a banjo.]

7. Dirty Projectors/David Byrne-Knotty Pine [This track off of Dark Was the Night makes me smile. Perfect dancing music, it has such an upbeat sound to it, it is perfect.]

8. Death Cab for Cutie-No Sunlight [I have been a fan of Death Cab ever since I saw them at Summerfest when I was 15, and their new album just makes me love them more. This song may have kind of depressing lyrics, but the music is just so pretty.]

9. She and Him- You Really Got a Hold on Me [Oh summer lovin'… This song by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward breaks your heart while capturing at the same time. It is so simplistic, and the combination of their voices is just lovely.]

10. My Brightest Diamond- Be My Husband [Shara has a beautiful voice, on the verge of bluesy. Just watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZZzta8YsLo&feature=related and be prepared to surf youtube all day perusing all the wonderous music found there.]

11. Rocky Votolato- White Daisy Passing [I have fallen in love with this musician, he's like a mix of the Shins, Bon Iver, and has the most beautiful lyrics I've ever heard. This would be the perfect music to watch clouds to. Back to the grass, looking up at a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Mmmm excellence.]

As an added bonus, here's a link to my friend's band homepage. He is an amazing pianist and songwriter. Check them out! http://www.imnotapilot.com/

COMING SOON

This site is currently under construction. Well, actually this blogspot is just to advertise the music site that will hopefully be found at moxieandmayhem.net by mid-May at the latest. But this blog is designed to give you a taste of what to expect from Moxie & Mayhem. The plan is to have a daily post from one of several contributing writers, with themes like "This is what I thought of ____'s new album", "If you haven't heard ____ yet, you're missing out!", "Up and coming artists of the electropop scene", or "20 great songs to pull an all-nighter too" and the like. Basically, whatever catches our fancy. My goal is to make Moxie & Mayhem one of the go-to sites for music addicts looking for their daily fix.

So stay tuned and tell your friends about Moxie & Mayhem!

~Ellie